Samuel Luckhurst2015-03-03T15:22:39-05:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=samuel-luckhurstCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Samuel LuckhurstGood old fashioned elbow grease.Mats Hummels To Arsenal - Transfer Talktag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2014-10-16T05:51:46-04:002014-10-16T06:59:01-04:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-luckhurst/£20 million war chest" promised for the January transfer window, as well as rumours of a move for Mats Hummels.

Usually, if Wenger is given £20m to buy a player or players, he will sign a crocked Swedish has-been on loan, however - and yes, everyone does say this every year - Arsenal's top four berth is under threat again thanks to a number of injuries.

Hummels, wanted by United in the summer, might finally leave Borussia Dortmund next year, as the club struggle to compete domestically, let alone in the Champions League. He would be an upgrade on any of Arsenal's defenders but would Wenger be able to snare him ahead of other clubs on the continent? It would arguably represent his biggest coup since Sol Campbell swapped the Lane for Highbury in 2001.

Hummels improved without Per Mertesacker at the World Cup

Sami Khedira will be available on a free next year - unless he signs a new contract at Real Madrid - and Chelsea manager José Mourinho is keen to re-sign the German midfielder.

Although Chelsea look a formidable side again, Ramires - a marauding box-to-box player - is not as classically Mourinho as the obedient and functional Khedira, who joined Real in 2010 from Stuttgart.

Frank Lampard is adamant he will leave Manchester City for New York City in January, despite an excellent start to his Eastlands career (well, apart from that debut at Arsenal).

And Brian McClair, known for his dry humour, has suggested Tom Cleverley could resurrect his United career.]]>Pep Guardiola Book: His 'Biggest F**k-Up' And The Best Quotestag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2014-10-16T03:56:24-04:002014-10-16T11:59:01-04:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-luckhurst/

Candid, forthright and occasionally colourful, here are the best quotes from Pep Confidential: The Inside Story of Pep Guardiola's First Season at Bayern Munich...]]>Pep Guardiola Dreams Of Managing Manchester Unitedtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2014-10-16T03:27:46-04:002014-10-16T03:59:02-04:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-luckhurst/Manchester United in the near future in a new book documenting his first year managing Bayern Munich.

In Pep Confidential: The Inside Story of Pep Guardiola's First Season at Bayern Munich, author Marti Perarnau is granted behind-the-scenes access to the German club during their double-winning 2013-14 season under Guardiola.

Guardiola's Bayern eliminated United from the Champions League

After leaving Barcelona in the summer of 2012, Guardiola began a year-long sabbatical in which he rejected offers from Manchester City, Chelsea and AC Milan before he was confirmed as Bayern manager in January 2013.

"From the start Pep was well disposed to the overtures from the Bavarian club," Perarnau writes. "A year before, in late July 2011, not long after a resounding 3-1 victory in the Champions League final against Manchester United at Wembley, Barcelona competed in the Audi Cup in Munich. Pep liked the set-up at Sabener Strasse, despite the fact that it was smaller than Barça's training ground and had fewer technical facilities. The Catalan was impressed and told Manel Estiarte [Guardiola's personal assistant] privately: 'I like this place. I could see myself coaching here one day.'

"Estiarte was not too surprised by the comment. Pep had said something very similar a few months before, at Manchester United. The day after beating Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final, Guardiola and Estiarte travelled to Manchester to watch their next opponent in action. It was May 4, 2011, and the pair sat together in the stands of Old Trafford watching Sir Alex Ferguson's team beat Schalke 4-1. Once again Pep had turned to his friend and said: 'I like this atmosphere. I could see myself coaching here one day.'"

Guardiola met Sir Alex Ferguson in New York - where Ferguson has a Manhattan department - in September 2012, where it is believed the Catalan was informally asked whether he would be interested in succeeding Ferguson, who at the time had not decided to retire at the end of that season.

The death of Ferguson's sister-in-law at the tail-end of 2012 impelled the Scot to end his 26-and-a-half years at Old Trafford, however he eventually anointed David Moyes as his successor, triggering an almighty downfall in which United slumped from champions to seventh in the space of a year.

Louis van Gaal, the latest United manager, signed a three-year contract in the summer and Guardiola's deal at Bayern expires a year earlier in 2016. Manchester City's director of football, Txiki Begiristain, worked closely with Guardiola at Barcelona and the City's current manager, Manuel Pellegrini, is also out of contract at the same time as Guardiola.]]>Petr Čech To Real Madrid - Transfer Talktag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2014-10-15T03:34:22-04:002014-10-15T04:59:01-04:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-luckhurst/Petr Čech could find himself in the same spot when Chelsea travel to Crystal Palace this weekend.

Despite faultlessly deputising for the injured Thibaut Courtois against Arsenal earlier this month, Čech is still the No.2 goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge and is unlikely to be at the club this time next year, which is of interest to Real Madrid.

Real reprieved Casillas in the summer by selling Diego López to AC Milan, and although Keylor Navas arrived they are still in need of a credible goalkeeper who is capable of ousting Casillas. Čech could be their man and is already being touted for a January move.

Čech has fallen behind Courtois in the Chelsea pecking order

Madrid have the option of signing Javier Hernández at the end of his season-long loan from Manchester United but Juventus, linked with the Mexican in the summer, could intervene. Juve are also reportedly considering a bid for United playmaker Juan Mata in the new year.

Aston Villa will double Ron Vlaar's wages in an attempt to dissuade United from making a move for the centre-back who excelled under Louis van Gaal at international level.

Vlaar performed superbly at the World Cup

Oriol Romeu hasn't played for Chelsea in 20 months and has admitted he would be happy to stay with Stuttgart, while Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Marcelo Brozović's agent has claimed he will meet Arsenal next month over a possible move.]]>Luis Suárez Denies Racially Abusing Patrice Evra Againtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2014-10-14T06:02:38-04:002014-10-14T06:17:20-04:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-luckhurst/Luis Suárez has once again denied racially abusing Patrice Evra almost three years to the day since one of English football's most infamous incidents.

Suárez was fined £40,000 and received an eight-match ban from the Football Association for racially abusing Evra during Liverpool and Manchester United's Premier League draw at Anfield.

The Uruguayan, still serving a four-month suspension for biting Italy centre-back Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup, admitted he "did wrong" when he bit opponents but still showed no contrition over his behaviour towards Evra.

Suárez has never apologised to Evra

"When I say I’m sorry it’s because I regret something," Suárez said. "Being sorry implies regret. But they have also sometimes judged me on things that aren’t true, such as the racism thing.

"I was accused without evidence and that’s what grieved me the most. The others were actions when it was me who did wrong. I accepted that and begged forgiveness, but the racism thing, when I was accused without evidence, that did upset me.

When Evra asked Suárez why he had kicked him following an earlier foul, the FA reported Suárez as saying "Because you are black."

Earlier this year, Suárez described the Evra case as "all false" and lamented he was "accused without proof".]]>Wayne Rooney: Striker's 43 England Goals (Video)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2014-10-13T04:06:58-04:002014-10-13T04:59:07-04:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-luckhurst/Wayne Rooney in Estonia however his knack for scoring whilst playing poorly continued.

Rooney has now hit six goals in 10 games for club and country this season. Although he has not emerged into the playmaking talisman Evertonians envisaged 12 years ago, he remains a totem for England and Manchester United and in a year's time might be the record goalscorer for both.

His free-kick against Estonia was his 43rd England goal from 99 appearances and he is now just six shy of Sir Bobby Charlton's record haul. The England captain had six of their 12 attempts in Tallinn and scored just once against San Marino three days previously. Rooney should be disappointed he's not closer to Charlton.]]>Mesut Özil To Bayern Munich - Transfer Talktag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2014-10-13T03:22:39-04:002014-10-13T03:59:07-04:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-luckhurst/Mesut Özil's miserable year has all but ended with a knee injury but there could be a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel being shone by Bayern Munich.

No, we can't believe it either, but the Monday rumour is Arsenal are prepared to take a £12.4 million hit on the Germany international by selling him to Bayern for £30m. Özil's productivity in Arsenal red has been mainly restricted to his first three months at the club and a spell on the sidelines could be viewed as a positive, rather than a negative, by Arsène Wenger.

Would Pep Guardiola want Özil? Probably not. Unlike the majority of Bayern's forwards, Özil has no defensive appetite and although Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry are both in their 30s they are surely preferable to Özil on the Bayern wing.

Özil has been in insipid form for Arsenal this year

David de Gea belatedly replaced Iker Casillas in the Spain side on Sunday night and he could do likewise at club level, too.

De Gea's Manchester United contract expires in 2016, when Casillas will be 35. The Spain skipper is fortunate to have started the season for both club and country but 86% of Marca readers voted for De Gea to start ahead of Casillas in Luxembourg last night, three days after Spain's defeat to Slovakia.

United will have to brace themselves for similar stories cropping up in the Madrid press unless they agree a new deal with the brilliant goalkeeper, 24 next month.

David de Gea enjoyed the game of his life against Everton eight days ago

One Spaniard United might not be as fussed about leaving is Juan Mata, especially when the interested club is Juventus.

It sounds disingenuous to label Mata, United's club-record buy nine months ago and scorer of eight goals in 20 matches, as a "makeweight", but if Arturo Vidal or Paul Pogba are part of the deal few United supporters are likely to have any complaints. Even if it reprieves Wayne Rooney again.

De Gea became the first goalkeeper to save a Leighton Baines penalty in the Premier League at the 15th attempt with United 1-0 up and produced two magnificent late saves from Leon Osman and Bryan Oviedo, as United propelled up to fourth in the table.

"Yes, of course," Van Gaal said when asked whether De Gea was the difference between the two sides. "Because at the end of the first-half he stopped the penalty, so that was good. He did very well in the last 15 minutes - three shots outside the box is always difficult because a lot of players are in front of him, so his view is not always good but when you stop those kind of shots you are very good. And he saved us."

"And I said to him it is always good that a goalkeeper has such games. So it shall improve his confidence also."

Everton manager Roberto Martínez also lavished praise on his "outstanding" compatriot. "David de Gea was outstanding," he conceded. "Two moments of an incredible.... Two saves that are eye-catching, but throughout he was very, very strong, very secure. Bryan Oviedo at the end, I felt everyone in the ground was waiting for the net to bulge. He had an outstanding performance, and I think he stopped us from having a positive result from the scoreline.

Van Gaal was left unsatisfied with United's second-half performance for the second week running. Radamel Falcao's 62nd-minute winner signalled the beginning of Everton's dominance, with Osman testing De Gea twice before Gareth Barry's goalbound shot was blocked by Tyler Blackett.

De Gea's stop from Oviedo's volley could be the save of the season

United's coach dismissed the suggestion his team's confidence was growing and opined they defended better with 10 men against West Ham last week, rather than with 11 against Everton.

"I'm always honest and I analyse the game and it is now our second game that we are not good in the second-half," Van Gaal added. "Maybe last week we had an excuse but I've said to my players that is not an excuse, 11 versus 10, it's more easy to keep your organisation then, because you're allowed to play compact. We didn't do that last week and we didn't do it this week.

"The first-half was very good, we created much more chances than last week, but last week we scored two goals and now, only one out of a lot of chances. And it was attacking and we didn't give any chance to Everton until the last minute [Baines' penalty]. So it was a very good first-half but we have to play 90 minutes."

Falcao struck his first United goal in his fourth game however Robin van Persie, captaining the side in Wayne Rooney's absence, looked lethargic during another 90-minute struggle. Van Gaal withdrew Falcao for James Wilson, though, and admitted he was compelled to counter Leighton Baines' marauding runs down United's right.

"When you play with a diamond you need to keep your positions and need to keep pressure on the full-backs and in the second-half the danger came from Baines," Van Gaal stressed. "That's why I changed Falcao and Wilson and he had to play more on the right side, but also [Antonio] Valencia, I saw him struggling, he played very well in my opinion, he was one of the stronger players in the first-half. But when you are not playing so much, then it is always difficult to play 90 minutes - you saw he had cramp after the match.

"That's why I changed him for [Marouane] Fellaini to do his job in that position. Oviedo was always going outside, then you have to speak with Rafa [Da Silva] and you can change, or you have to follow. Those kind of things you have to work out as a team and also in a training session with your manager.

"Last week, you had an excuse but, in my opinion, it's not an excuse because with 10 you can defend better than last week but now we play 11 against 11 and we haven't defended well. We have given four big chances away - in other matches we didn't give that kind [of chances]. I like Everton, also, because they are a playing team, but we have to do it better and we have to improve."

Luke Shaw was substituted after receiving a knock to his knee and although he has joined United's growing casualty list, Van Gaal bemoaned the timing of the second international break this season.

"Now all my players are gone. The rest are injured. We cannot train," Van Gaal lamented, occasionally banging the table. "I have to wait for [Ángel] Di María and [Marcos] Rojo to come back from Hong Kong, they are playing two friendly games, and then they are coming back with jet lag, so I cannot train them. Then I have to wait and then I have only two or three days before the game with West Bromwich Albion. That's my problem, I know, and we live in this football world. I was a national coach. But it's not so easy as everybody thinks."

United have won just three of their seven League matches but have quietly risen up into the Champions League places. Their Premier League goalscorers consist of the daunting sextet of Falcao, Di María, Van Persie, Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Ander Herrera ,and Van Gaal couldn't resist issuing a warning.

"We are not playing good but we are already fourth in the table. What is coming when we are playing well?"]]>Manchester United 2-1 Everton: Ángel Di María And Leighton Baines Make Wingers In-Vogue Againtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2014-10-05T06:11:31-04:002014-10-05T10:59:07-04:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-luckhurst/

In blue, Leighton Baines, galvanised by his first ever saved Premier League penalty, responded with swashbuckling vigour. Baines and Shaw, despite not being in direct opposition, sparred like international competitors until the latter was forced off through injury. Everton's left-back was as troublesome for United as Di María was for the Toffees.

"When you play with a diamond you need to keep your positions and need to keep pressure on the full-backs and in the second-half the danger came from Baines," Van Gaal stressed. "That's why I changed Falcao and Wilson and he had to play more on the right side."

Wingers are back in vogue at Old Trafford. David Moyes bemoaned the lack of world-class players and had he had it his way, Baines would be lining up in red. His de facto replacement Shaw, was a reckless thrill to watch, despite the ignominious transgression of conceding a penalty to Hibbert.

David de Gea rightly earned the man of the match award for becoming the first Premier League goalkeeper to thwart Baines from 12 yards and two stunning world-class saves, but it would be disingenuous to focus such a madcap match on the goalie. Martínez, relishing the flank fest, introduced Bryan Oviedo to supplement Baines.

United struggled to contain one-time target Baines

The irony was United opened the scoring from the right wing, where Rafael da Silva's crossing had been erratic. Phil Jagielka's hooked clearance fell to Juan Mata, who serenely cushioned the ball for Di María to slot into the corner of Tim Howard's net. Da Silva, purportedly the full-back, was playing further ahead of the maligned Antonio Valencia, for whom a blocked cross represents a positive outcome these days. The canny tactic had paid off.

"What more can you ask for?" Louis van Gaal responded when asked about Di María's impact. The Argentinean has now scored three and assisted three in five games.

Eight days in football is an eternity and Patrick McNair, gangly and uncomfortable against West Ham's bruise brothers last week, refused to be bullied by Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian striker preyed on the 19-year-old and was visibly eager for Everton to launch more aerial balls but was left disappointed until the 39th minute. He controlled Leighton Baines' curling through ball expertly but blazed the ball into the Scoreboard End.

United are a giver of chances, though, and Shaw rashly slid in on the marauding Hibbert to concede a stoppage-time penalty, United's seventh concession in the area this year. De Gea hadn't saved a penalty in regulation time since August 2011 yet he guessed correctly and denied Baines' 15th Premier League spotkick with a dive to his right.

Shaw experienced an ambivalent second start

Falcao, energetic but profligate, wasted a fourth opportunity eight yards from goal with an off-target mishap masked by John Stones' block. Judging by the Colombian's anguished expression, he was acutely aware of how uncomfortable United have defended slender leads and Steven Naismith punished him four minutes later with a headed equaliser. Naturally, from a pinpoint Baines cross.

Then Falcao's moment arrived in the 62nd minute. Similarly to Mata's and Ander Herrera's recent strikes against Queens Park Rangers and Leicester last month, Di María's dragged shot was finished by a teammate as Falcao pounced predatorily on Stones' shoulder. Perhaps deliberately, he milked the acclaim in front of United's K Stand contingent that first serenaded him on his debut and his 74th minute withdrawal for James Wilson was dubious, considering Van Persie's lethargy. The captain's privilege extends to the Dutchman, too.

De Gea superbly stopped Osman's stoppage-time effort, Baines whipped in another teasing set-piece, Blackett blocked heroically from Gareth Barry and De Gea magnificently tipped Oviedo's volley over. Stones' injury signalled a nerve-wracking break in play with one more Baines delivery to face. Lukaku headed it over and the Stretford End let out a euphoric sigh of relief.

"Two world-class saves," a United fan chirped at a journalist. And two-world class left-wingers.]]>Danny Welbeck And The English Champions League Hat-Trick Heroestag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2014-10-02T04:13:03-04:002014-10-02T04:59:07-04:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-luckhurst/Danny Welbeck became the fifth English striker to score a hat-trick in the Champions League nearly 19 years on from the first.

Liverpool and Arsenal - again - are the two teams linked with the 27-year-old, who looked set to leave Real in mid-August only for the club to have a change of heart.

Toni Kroos' arrival has intensified competition in midfield at Real and even though Xabi Alonso left for Bayern Munich, Khedira is behind Luka Modrić and Asier Illarramendi in the pecking order.

Khedira looked set to leave Real in August

Khedira has struggled with injuries over the last year and has not played since 31 August. Currently out with a thigh injury, he recovered to play at the World Cup this year but he suffered another setback on the eve of Germany's triumphant final in Rio de Janeiro.

Real have reiterated Isco will not be joining Liverpool or Arsenal, though.

Liverpool are keen on Gonzalo Higuaín, which could impact Arsenal's interest in Porto's Jackson Martínez. Napoli could make a move for the Colombian to replace Higuaín.

Higuaín only joined Napoli last year

Mats Hummels keeps being asked about Manchester United but what about Neven Subotic? The Mirror suggest the Serbian could move to Manchester instead of his partner.

Juan Cuadrado, linked on a near-daily basis to United in the summer despite no concrete interest from the club, is ready to sign an extension at Fiorentina.

And Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, impressive for Roma at City last night but unimpressive in a Newcastle shirt, could make his switch to the Eternal City permanent.]]>Cristiano Ronaldo To Manchester United 'In 2016' - Transfer Talktag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2014-09-30T02:58:18-04:002014-09-30T03:59:07-04:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-luckhurst/Cristiano Ronaldo is winning the closed-window rumour mill hands down, with the latest report regarding his possible to return to Manchester United claiming he will re-join the Reds in 2016.

Ronaldo will be 31, then, which won't exactly suit United or Louis van Gaal (providing he's still in charge), who'd be entering the last year of his Old Trafford contract.

Ronaldo needs, realistically, two more seasons in Spain if he is to overtake Raúl's Real Madrid goalscoring record. Raúl has 323 goals, followed by Alfredo di Stéfano on 305 and Carlos Santillana on 289, with the Portuguese 24 more behind. Ronaldo is a freak of nature and has scored at an astonishing 1.04 per match for Real whereas Raúl took 16 years to notch up a triple century, so he could claim the mantle this season.

Ronaldo celebrates his last United goal against Manchester City in 2009

United might have bought some centre-backs by 2016, which would excuse the extravagant fee Ronaldo will likely command, too.

Down south, Chelsea are interested in another Benfica prospect, 20-year-old Brazilian Anderson Talisca. José Mourinho will be hoping he's more Nemanja Matić than David Luíz. And definitely not another Anderson.

The Premier League leaders are also keen on Ross Barkley, coveted by Manchester City, and all yours for £50 million.

And Sampdoria's Manolo Gabbiadini (no, he's not the son of Marco) has plenty of admirers in England.]]>Juan Mata To Valencia - Transfer Talktag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2014-09-29T04:21:06-04:002014-09-29T04:59:06-04:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-luckhurst/Juan Mata could be set for an upturn in fortunes after Wayne Rooney's red card but the Manchester United attacker continues to be linked with a move away from the club.

United's interest in Kevin Strootman has seen Mata mooted as a makeweight in a possible deal but this morning the Spaniard is touted for a return to Valencia.

Peter Lim's takeover of the club could, in time, make Valencia as competitive as they were under Rafael Benítez at the beginning of the century and Mata would be one player warmly welcomed back.

Mata started United's last two games on the bench

United's next three games could have a huge bearing on Mata's future. With Rooney suspended, either he or Adnan Januzaj will play behind Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao, unless Louis van Gaal switches formation again.

Ashley Young is another player who could leave United, with former club Aston Villa and Southampton both reportedly keen on the England winger, currently injured.

Eden Hazard is yet to sign a new Chelsea contract but has ruled out a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

And Stoke manager Mark Hughes has revealed Emmanuel Rivière rejected the Potters in favour of Newcastle... on the eve of Stoke versus Newcastle. That's one underwhelming way to stoke the flames.]]>Louis Van Gaal Says Wayne Rooney's Foul Was 'Too Unfriendly'tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2014-09-27T12:27:39-04:002014-09-27T13:59:06-04:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-luckhurst/Louis van Gaal praised Manchester United's resilience as they held on for 36 nail-biting minutes against a dogged West Ham United side to claim a 2-1 victory.

Reduced to 10 men after Wayne Rooney's shocking foul on Stewart Downing in the 59th minute, United endured a barrage of aerial balls from the visitors, who had an 89th minute Kevin Nolan goal disallowed for offside late on as they laid siege on the hosts' goal.

United clung on for a valuable three points as Old Trafford rocked to the defiant tone heard during David Moyes' miserable era. This, though, was a game to savour and Van Gaal was delighted with his players' commitment.

"The red card of Wayne changed everything and you cannot defend it easily because they are still playing with the long ball," Van Gaal said. "Our height is not good enough and then it is always dangerous.

"Then you have to fight, fight and another fight and I am very pleased with the attitude of my players because they fought until the end and I said after the match to them then you shall always be rewarded with a very good result."

Rooney's red card - his first in a United shirt for five-and-a-half years - will dominate the post-mortem. After a United corner was cleared, Luke Shaw's pass deflected into Stewart Downing's path just outside the Hammers' area and his attempt to initiate a counter-attack was viciously ended by Rooney's hack.

United adapted commendably well without their captain, as substitutes Darren Fletcher and Antonio Valencia helped man the barricades, but had Rooney apologised for his violent conduct?

"Wayne is always coming to me," Van Gaal said, evading the question. "Maybe you don't want to hear it but maybe you do know you make professional fouls and I have seen it today, I think five or six times, and Wayne has done that also.

"I think he did it too unfriendly and maybe that is his biggest mistake, but I have seen also these professional fouls without the yellow card or red card so that's a little bit strange.

"He wanted to do that but, I don't know, you have to explain that. He said to me he wanted to do that but you cannot change that anymore and he is a great miss because he played very well. I was very pleased with him, he scored a goal."

When one journalist challenged Van Gaal on the wisdom of Rooney's behaviour, he issued one of his infamous put-downs.

"For me, it's neither a good analysis of you and neither a good question."

Robin van Persie's second goal of the season proved to be the winner in a "dominant" first-half buoyed by Rooney's fifth-minute opener. However the Hammers struck prior to the interval via a corner, beginning a nervy afternoon for the Old Trafford natives, although Van Gaal claimed David de Gea was "touched by the opponent, so maybe you can cancel this goal also."

Nineteen-year-old Patrick McNair experienced a joyous debut with a game-saving header deep into the second-half, although his manager couldn't resist taking some of the credit for the Northern Irishman's emergence.

"You make a solution to put Daley Blind in the centre of defence because that is easy to do," Van Gaal explained. "He has played there also in the Dutch national team but I don't like two left central defenders and I don't like two right central defenders, that's why we have brought [Marcos] Rojo for this position. And because of that we are looking at the youth academy and, of course, we have seen them already [last] Monday against Sunderland.

"And then I like [McNair] already and then we put him in the squad, we trained in this new organisation because we played with Rojo for the first time in this position, Shaw, because he was also injured, for the first time in the Premier League and then Paddy McNair. And when you see what we have done I think we have done it very good."]]>Manchester United 2-1 West Ham: Wayne Rooney The Villain, Rather Than The Victimtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2014-09-27T08:29:48-04:002014-09-27T12:59:07-04:00Samuel Luckhursthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-luckhurst/Manchester United's second goal. Wayne Rooney thought he had ended a chastening week with United's opener and, initially, displayed the leadership credentials that persuaded Louis van Gaal to name him skipper. Then Stewart Downing intervened.

Violently and deliberately, Rooney hacked the winger down in the 59th minute as Downing attempted to initiate a counter-attack from inside his own half. Rooney will argue it wasn't a goalscoring opportunity but his kick could provide the pictorial definition for "violent conduct". Two-one up but under the cosh, it was his first red card in nearly three years and first United dismissal in five-and-a-half.

Rooney departed the victim in the immediate aftermath. Applauded as he trudged down the tunnel, referee Lee Mason was labelled a "wanker" and a "Scouse bastard" for having the temerity to flourish the red card. Rooney is cut an inordinate amount of slack by coaches, staff and supporters inside Old Trafford but those supporters that hollered his name will wince when they see the replays.

Not a week seems to pass by without Rooney's role in the United side coming under considerable scrutiny and Van Gaal will be without him until the Manchester derby at City on 2 November. His loss is Juan Mata's gain, although the choice to promote Rooney ahead of others will rumble on. His anger has been simmering since he inherited the armband; erupting volcanically at referees and even his teammates. Carded by Mark Clattenburg for pointlessly debating Tyler Blackett's foul on Jamie Vardy last week, he had all but deafened Mason before that heinous swing of a right boot. It would be blinkered to suggest his outburst of rage was an anomaly.

Rooney perhaps received more flak than any of his teammates following the Leicester debacle last week yet he has scored three goals in as many Old Trafford games this campaign. That impact will be missed.

Song, deputising for the recovering Kevin Nolan and absent Mark Noble, seemed as desperate to curtail his afternoon as he was his World Cup in the summer but his transgressions paled into insignificance. The game was not two minutes old and he had already hacked down Ángel di María twice. That wasn't captaincy material and Rooney's strike reflected especially well on him when he delicately volleyed past Adrián in the fifth minute.

Rooney will not play for United again until 2 November

United are as vulnerable as they are unpredictable right now, though. As Van Gaal's predecessor might have said, they don't make it easy for themselves and at times they looked like they could inflict a record defeat upon West Ham or lose to their visitors.

The supporters were put through the wringer for 36 unsettled minutes as United clung on for three points with 10 men. Old Trafford has often sounded cacophonous over the last year and the final shrill was greeted rapturously. This was a tough test for a makeshift United rearguard in inauspicious circumstances and they passed it.

Rooney will not want to remember this afternoon but Patrick McNair will. The 19-year-old debutant's sensational goal-saving header late in the second-half denied West Ham a certain point and propelled United up to seventh, dashing memories of his fretful first-half. The teenager, Daley Blind and Rafael da Silva lead with a controlled aggression that is beyond Rooney.

"You have to fight, fight and another fight," Van Gaal said. "I am very pleased with the attitude of my players." Except one.

McNair looked understandably nervous. His first touch in professional football was a hoof and he then played an uncertain backpass to David de Gea. Within seconds of Rooney's opener Enner Valencia ghosted into the space vacated by McNair and Marcos Rojo but blazed over. Despite a portentous start, West Ham had reason for optimism against such a soft-centred United defence.

Ballyclare-born McNair did display a confidence carrying the ball forward once associated with his compatriot, Jonny Evans. The Stretford End urged him on in a 13th minute burst, though the nosebleed soon started. Listed as a midfielder on the United website, his composure on the ball in the middle third was much more evident than nearer his own area.

Radamel Falcao is the first of United's new signings to have his name serenaded but there is a surrogate homage to Di María every time Ryan Giggs' Robin Hood chant is aired. Falcao, selfless, was alert to capitalise on Adrián's dismal clearance and the lax Song to play in Van Persie. The Dutchman deceived Winston Reid and beat the goalkeeper with a low right-footed finish.

United's failure to register a three-goal cushion was pivotal at the King Power Stadium and West Ham denied them the luxury again. De Gea, usually faultless in the air these days, sparked a panicky goalmouth scramble that gifted Diafra Sakho a second goal in a week eight minutes before the pause and, suddenly, West Ham's forwards were encouraged to impose their physicality on the scrawny McNair.

"Fucking shit," was one United fan's verdict of an unimaginative pass from Rojo early in the second-half. West Ham sensed the nerves spread around United like a virus. Shaw, scarcely tested before the pause, allowed Sakho a free volley at the far post that tested De Gea and the hosts barely survived a goalmouth scramble seconds later.

Then Rooney butchered Downing. Old Trafford has found its defiant voice over the last year and it rose to the occasion again. West Ham pummelled United, McNair emerged the hero and Nolan had a goal chalked off for offside. Time ran out.